Site menu

Recent immigration court rulings have held that Fla. Stat. 812.014(2)(c)(1) [grand theft] (petty theft included) is not a crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT), if the record of conviction (modified categorical approach) can not establish whether Respondent was convicted for temporary or permanent deprivation and appropriation. Further, retail theft (shoplifting) under Fla. Stat. 812.014 is not a CIMT and that Matter of Jurado-Degado 24 I&N Dec. 29, 33 (BIA 2006) is not applicable to the Florida statute.

If the respondent is only removable/inadmissible for the Fla. theft offense, termination of the case may be appropriate.

Further, these Fla. theft charges should not trigger stop-time rule for cancellation of removal purposes, and may not constitute aggravated felonies (even if 1 year of imprisonment).